Tag Archives: portland dining

Urban Farmer Portland sits in the heart of a city which is increasingly (and deservedly) lauded as a top destination for all things food + drink. Since 2012 the FEAST Portland festival has been celebrating this authentic and dynamic culinary scene by drawing likeminded folks from all over the world to showcase Portland and its talented culinarians.

Chef Matt has been a FEAST Portland mainstay and is honored to once again represent Urban Farmer in the much beloved Sandwich Invitational alongside 19 nationally renowned chefs. This year Chef Matt will also be flexing his culinary muscles by hosting an intimate Portland Surf and Texas Turf dinner in the Barrel Room cooking alongside ‘Top Chefs’ and friends Gregory Gourdet, Doug Adams, BJ Smith and out of towner Texan, John Tesar.

We’ll keep you updated with drool worthy pics of the edible art Chef Mat and company will be serving up for everyone’s FEAST-ing pleasure – stay tuned!

ABOUT FEAST: ‘Feast Portland is more than a food and drink festival. It’s a movement that showcases the energy, creativity and enthusiasm that’s driving America’s food revolution while celebrating two of the culinary world’s most inspiring places: Portland and Oregon. From spirited one-of-a-kind large-scale events featuring trendsetting chefs from all over the country and the world, to intimate hands-on classes, collaborative dinners and panels, Feast offers some of the most compelling experiences and original programming in the modern food festival conversation.’

Urban Farmer Portland takes full advantage of our 1.5 hour proximity to the mighty Pacific Ocean which means an abundance of fresh Pacific Northwest oysters year round. While we admit, we are a bit partial to the petite, delicate and sweet oysters from the Pacific; we are equal opportunity oyster advocates. As such, we always have our east coast Atlantic brethren represented on the menu as well so you can slurp side by side to draw your own conclusions.

Urban Farmer, Portland’s Steakhouse
Chef de Cuisine Adam Schuller
The Urban Farmer Portland kitchen has been graced with wealth of culinary talent and we now celebrate Chef Adam Schuller as he assumes the role of Chef de Cuisine. Chef Adam will also be our apiarist in residency.

Q: What defines your culinary philosophy?
Chef Adam: It all started in childhood with my desire to bring my family closer. After volunteering to cook Thanksgiving dinner at age 12 I discovered breaking bread together and sharing recipes that have been enjoyed for generations was the most organic way to achieve this. I consider dining together to be a time to put the phones away and set distractions aside to connect on an authentic level with people.

Q: What’s your favorite dish on the menu right now at Urban Farmer Portland?
Chef Adam: Our Day Boat Scallops with pork, cumin and carrot. My goal with an entrée is to have fruit, vegetable and protein represented on the plate to create a well-rounded meal. The grapes and arugula we finish it with add a freshness that lifts the dish.

Q: What are you most excited about as you assume your role as Chef de Cuisine?
Chef Adam: I want to be the community outreach chef specifically surrounding community gardens and beekeeping in backyards and homes. In my hometown of Santa Cruz, CA I started a program that partnered with farmer’s markets to educate farm workers on how to utilize the less familiar produce for example celery root, to help feed the families that feed our families and reduce food waste. My goal is to start a similar program with our local markets and farms here in Portland.

Q: How do you spend your days off?
Chef Adam: Taking care of my garden and as a triathlete a lot of time goes into training. Within the last year I have completed the Santa Cruz Half Iron Man, Chelan Long Distance Triathlon, Pac Crest Triathlon and Vancouver USA Marathon. However I try to prioritize time with my beautiful wife Chelsey and 18 month old daughter and soon to be big sister Evelyn.

The bountiful brunch buffet at Urban Famer Portland has become legendary and we are privileged to welcome back families to feast together and raise a glass to spring. That means staying true to Easter classics like our array deviled egg accoutrements, house smoked fish and carrot + coffee cakes, tarts, and trifles abound. However that also means enticing with something new each year.

As National Eggs Benedict day falls on Easter this year, we had to include a build your own benedict bar with our famous house made sourdough English muffins and béarnaise or sauce choron to complete the look. Something sweet? Let the chefs guide you through our French toast bar with Bourbon bananas, honey and orange mascarpone or foietella for the adventurous set. Our suggestion would be to take a trip through both with a stop at the bloody mary bar on your way back to the table.

The house-made sourdough English muffins at Urban Farmer are a testament to the expertise and dedication of our pastry and culinary teams. Anchoring signature dishes from our family of Eggs Benedict variations to the Farm Burger, our English muffins have become a highly recognizable staple of the Urban Farmer repertoire.

It all starts with our beloved eight-year-old sourdough starter ‘Charlie’. Our English muffins undergo fermentation and proofing before baking then butter griddling to perfection. Billowy, light with just the right amount of chew and that delicate sourdough tang, make sure you tuck into an Urban Farmer English muffin on your next visit!

Swelling with pride and but with heavy hearts the Urban Farmer Portland family prepares to send Chef Chris Starkus Denver, CO bound to assume the role of Executive Chef at Urban Farmer’s fourth location.

Joining the Sage Restaurant Group team in 2013, Chef Starkus has instituted initiatives that exemplify Urban Farmer’s commitment to sustainability and community. A culinary library open to all, an externship program for the future generation of culinarians, a partnership with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, a thriving rooftop apiary and rooftop garden from which both Urban Farmer & Departure PDX reap the bounty.

Against a background of autumn hues and misty mountains, the last of those precious little Pinot Noir berries have been picked off the vines in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Looks like the 2015 harvest will yield richly fruited wines and you can be sure that Urban Farmer will be among the first to showcase the vintage. With a world class wine growing region a mere 45 minutes away from our front door, we couldn’t help ourselves; we had to curate a Wine List boasting over 50 Oregon Pinot Noirs. Forgive us by getting a little geeky and even categorizing these gems by the 5 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in our beloved Valley.

Next time you sit down for Chef’s Matt’s NY Tasting, don’t be so quick to order that Cabernet. Let one of our Certified Specialists of Wine guide you towards an Oregon Pinot Noir. We think you may be pleasantly surprised by how ideal a counterpoint the elegance and verve of an Oregon Pinot Noir is to a perfectly prepared steak.

If the chefs seem are a bit too giddy on Wednesdays & Fridays, our farmer partners are to blame. Wednesdays mean a weekly trip to the Shemanski Farmer’s Market our red wagon in tow, but Fridays now have whole new meaning thanks to our friends at Zenger Farm, an urban farm that models, promotes and educates about sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, community development and access to good food for all. Urban Farmer Portland is proud to be the first restaurant participating in Zenger Farm’s weekly CSA (community supported agriculture). Eacd Friday a farmer’s selection of what is seasonal and at its peak arrives for chefs Matt, Chris, Adam, Erick & Alec to articulate the season a on a plate. The bounty of our inaugural CSA became a stunning honey roasted breakfast radish salad with charred mustard greens, green garlic-radish top pesto. Cheers to summer and the farmers who tend our land year round!

The Urban Farmer family is always on the search for more efficient and eco-responsible urban farming practices. As we consider ourselves early adopters, it was a natural progression for us to integrate an indoor hydroponic growing system.

Hydro- what?!? All us to explain; our basic hydroponic system requires no soil. The ‘hydro tower’ pumps both water and plant food to the top of the system literally raining down across root system to deliver the necessary nutrients. Mimicking nature in a controlled environment thus maximizing efficiency by reducing cost of labor and use of land simply be embracing and incorporating the ever evolving technologies pushed forward by likeminded innovators

Against a background of autumn hues and misty mountains, the last of those precious little Pinot Noir berries have been picked off the vines in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Looks like the 2015 harvest will yield richly fruited wines and you can be sure that Urban Farmer will be among the first to showcase the vintage. With a world class wine growing region a mere 45 minutes away from our front door, we couldn’t help ourselves; we had to curate a Wine List boasting over 50 Oregon Pinot Noirs. Forgive us by getting a little geeky and even categorizing these gems by the 5 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in our beloved Valley.

Next time you sit down for Chef’s Matt’s NY Tasting, don’t be so quick to order that Cabernet. Let one of our Certified Specialists of Wine guide you towards an Oregon Pinot Noir. We think you may be pleasantly surprised by how ideal a counterpoint the elegance and verve of an Oregon Pinot Noir is to a perfectly prepared steak.

Urban Farmer is getting in on the fun in a couple of ways at this year’s Feast, the Pacific Northwest’s largest food festival. We’ll be featured at their newest marquee event, Smoked! Where open fire and smoke are used in creative ways. Chefs Matt and Chris are keeping tight-lipped as to what they’re making but knowing them it’s sure to be equally whacky and tasty! Chef Matt has also teamed up with Whole Foods to make an “Urbanh Mi” for the Sandwich Invitational. Although he won’t be competing, the sandwich will be available in all Portland Whole Foods for the weeks surrounding Feast. We can’t wait to taste it

Chefs Matt and Chris are ready to share a few of their latest menu changes with the world! They’ve worked hard to maintain our commitment to sustainable practices by continuing to work closely Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch and sourcing fun springtime vegetables from local farms. One of our favorite new menu items is the wild Pacific salmon. The chefs delicately place the seared fish on a bed of broccolini, charred grape, olive and salsify puree